Festive Sale Picks

I can never quite believe it, but here we are on Christmas Eve, and sale season has already started. What happened to the sanctity of the Boxing Day sales, carefully frittering away your newly-gifted Christmas cash and vouchers on sparkly new bits and pieces for your wardrobe (whilst simultaneously mainlining Pringles and Baileys, natch)?

But if you are feeling inclined to get ahead of the game sale-wise this season, I wanted to share with you a few little gems that I've uncovered, all of which would be gorgeous for the New Year festivities, but would make great additions to your wardrobe in January and beyond too.

For me, sale season is about two things: finding classic pieces at a great price, and buying more frivolous items that have a shorter shelf-life, once they're heavily discounted, of course.

I'm kicking off my sale roundup with this heavenly French Connection sequinned dress; the only dress you'd ever need for the festive season. This has a solid discount in the sale but it's still pretty pricey - this is one of those investment pieces I was talking about. A dress that will see you through any number of gatherings for years to come, easy to throw on and guaranteed to look glamorous at any occasion. I love the feminine flippy hem, and the long sleeves/v-neck combo flash just enough skin to be alluring, without going overboard.

Still sparkly, but definitely more on the side of frivolous, are these embroidered ankle boots. You've probably seen them all over Insta and no wonder, they're so beautiful, but I think we can all admit that these aren't your everyday kind of boots. £20 off the price slots them into a 'treat yourself, it's not too much' kind of category, so you can pop them on without the guilt. I think these would look amazing with a simple black t-shirt dress, with a lush velvet midi, or a fab way to jazz up a jeans-and-jumper combo.

A pair of classic court shoes will never go amiss in your wardrobe, and haven't we all lusted after those blue satin Manolos from SATC in years gone by? This dupe pair from River Island would add an instant style hit to a simple LBD, as well as a splash of colour. Plus, you can guarantee that every woman in the room will be asking where you got them from. No five-year waiting list here, honey (or eye-watering credit card bill, for that matter.)

Buying your winter coat in the sales is what smart shoppers do. Choose a classic style in a versatile colour and you can be sure that it will still look fabulous for winters to come. Something like this dreamy navy blue wool coat is a great idea; it will go with any number of outfits, and navy always looks expensive. A style like this is always en vogue, so do yourself a favour and snap up next year's winter coat at a fraction of the price.

Finally, it's always nice to add a little accessory to the mix, and even better when they cost so little. This dual-pocket leather-effect bag is a gorgeous option for night or day; paired with a sleek coat, jeans and trainers in the daytime or that sparkly sequinned dress in the evening, it's going to look just right. I especially like the double gold chain on this one, which looks super chic and adds just the right amount of glam to an otherwise sleek, chic bag.